Self-leveling apparatus



J. BAKOVICH.

SELFLEVELING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s, 1920'.

1,882,71 1 Patented June 28, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. BAKOVICH.

SELF LEVELING APPARATUS APPLICATION man Nov. e. 1920.

Patented June 2s, 1921'.A

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2v'.

INVENTQR n v c L I'. BAKovIcH.

SELF LEVELING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION 'FILED Nov. e, 1920. 1,382,71 1 Patented June28, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.n Im

Lwmop WITNESS fyi/Wag? JSEPHBAKOVICH, 0F HEYRMONIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING APPARATUS.

` Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd June 28, 1921..v

Application led November 6, 1920. Serial No. 422,201.

To all 'whom/t may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr Bnnovrorr, a subject of Jugo-Slavia, residing at Hermonie, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Leveling Apparatus, of which the following is a speciication. Y l n This invention relates to balancing machines and the primary object thereof is to provide a leveling apparatus of the character described,A in a manner as hereinafter set forth, whereby a supporting platform 'or table will be automatically maintained in perfectly level or horizontal plane. The device is primarily designed for use in connection with marine vessels for sustaining articles without overbalancing regardless of the pitching, rolling or lurching of the vessel. It will of course be understood that the principle of the device can be employed forany purposes wherein it is found applicable.

Further objects of the invention are to'V provide an apparatus of the class referred to which is simple in its lconstruction and arrangement for :the purpose intended, strong, durable and efficient in its use, readily installed, and comparatively inexpensive.

To the accomplishment of these and lsuch other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andV illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, butA itis to be understood, that changes, variationsgand modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the' claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and wherein like numerals of ture comprising the longitudinal side mem-v bers 1 and 2 connected together by the transverse end members 3 and 4. The end vmembers 31and4 support a pairof parallel rails 5 and 6 forming a track upon" which a wheeled operating l, truck 7 travels. The

truck7 carries'a rack gear 8 positioned between the rails 5 and 6 and extending slightly above the top thereof.

A large operating naled in bearing blocks 10 by the supporting shaft 11', meshes with the rack gear 8.V

gear 9, suitably jour-V Upon travel of the carriage or truck 7 in the longitudinal direction, the rack gear 8, carried thereby, will cause the rotation of the gear 9 vin both directions, depending upon the direction of travel of the truck 7.

The shaft 11 carriesa fixed bevel gear 12 whichl isin mesh with the bevel gear 13, which latter is ycarried by one end of the actuating screw 14.l The screw 14 isjournaled, as at 15, for rotation in the base structure and has threaded engagement with the block 16, mounted thereon.

Approximate the longitudinal center of each of the side members 1 and 2,y is a vertical'standard 17, the tops of which support an intermediateframing structure 18 pivotal'ly connected thereto to permit a see-saw action of the structure -18 thereon. l

A cable 19, passing over sheaves 20 and 21, connects one end of the intermediate fram- 16, while the cableV 22, passing over sheaves 28 and v24, Vconnects the other end of the structure l18 with the other end `of the block 16.

The momentum of the carriage or. truck 7 with its rack gear 8 in its travel will operate the gear mechanisms 9, 12 and 13, causing the rotation of the screw 14 and the longiftu'dinal movement of the block 16 threaded i` thereon. 'i

The longitudinal level of the intermediat framing' structure 18 will be maintained at all times by the above described action of the device, for when'the base structure is tiltedV due to the tossing-of the vessel carrying same, the truck 7 will travel in the direction of the declination of the tilting movement, operating the screw 14 in the block 16, which latter draws the cable attachedto the inclined end of the device, holding the intermediate structure 18 at a perfect level, due to its pivotal connection with the standards 17.

Mounted centrally on the intermediate framing Vstructure 18 is a pair of transversely disposed rails 25 and 26, which forms a n track for a 'carriage or truck 27 provided through a common sheave 35, connects each to, allowing' the lateral tilting movement ofV Y side ofthe framing structure'18 with respective ends of the block 36. Each end of the structure 18 is provided with a verticalv standard 37, .the tops of which carry a platform 38 pivotally connected, as at 39, therethe platform 38 .in said connection.

It will be noted thatthe operating mechanism carried by the base structure will pre- Y vent longitudinal tilting only, of the structure carried by the standards 17, While the mechanism carried vby' the intermediate framing structure 18 Will prevent only the lateral tilting of the structure carried -by the standards 37, but the combined operations of bothm'eiitioned Amechanisms will automatically maintain the platform, 38 in a level position, and consequently they equilibn riuinof anyarticle placed thereon( To steady'the movement of the trucks 7 i and 27 duringthe operation of the device,

each'ofthetrucks is provided with a pair of-springs 54 and 55, the former connecting with the truck and one of the end members andthe latter connecting thetruck with the rack gears. n A

For 'the purpose of maintaining the shifti 38. ,'Each corner of the platform 38 is pro-A other of said end members. To entirely arrest the! operation `ofthe' device, a-key 40 is inserted through the rails to engage the ing elements firmly against each other the platformf38has posts 41gon which' pivots a frame-42disposed parallel'to the platform c vided with a bracket 43 vcarrying a pair of sprocket Wheels 44 and 45 fixed on a vcommon shaft 46. A chain 47 attached to each corner ofthe frame 42 passes over the.y Wheel 44,

and a chain-48 attached. to each corner of Athe platform 49 passes over the sprocket 45.

Each of thegchains 47Y and 48 is with a respective Weight 51 and 52.

- The frame 42, at each side thereof, has attached thereto a Vpair of Vbrackets 56, each provided rof which supports a rotatable sprocketV 57,

ever which travels a chain 58.- The latter carries on its lovver end a Weight, as indicated at 59. The upper end of each of the chains 58, is attached to a tablegGO, Which shifts in a direction. opposite the-directionVV in which the platform 49 moves. The-table 6DA carries rollers v61 Which travel on the tracks 62 carried by the platform 49.

A breaking device for the elements of the structure and its operatingmeans isindicated at 62. The said operating means is so set up as to simultaneouslyoperate' all the elementsoffthe braking device.r

What I claim is n A l d* Y `1. 'A-leveling mechanism comprising aA base, an intermediate frame pivotally connectedzivith the base,-aplatfoi'm pivetally connected with the frame, a Vgear-mecha-i 'gnism carried by the baseand having flexible l connections with the ends fof the frame, .a

Vgear-mechanism carriedrbyV the frame vand having flexible-connections With the ends of the platform', said gearmechanisms dis-Y posed atright'angles to each other,land shiftable carriages carried bythe base and frame for operating the gear mechanism to balance the frame and platform. i v ;2.v A leveling mechanism comprising `va base, 'an intermediate frame pivotally connected therewith, a platform pivotally connected with thev frame, a gear mechanism vcarried by the base, a shiftable element'operted by thegear' mechanism and having f flexible connections with the ends'ofylthe frame, a gear mechanism carried bythe frame, a shiftable element operatedby the gear mechanism on the frame and having flexible connections with the ends ofl the platform, said elements disposed at right'l angles,'and shiftable carriages mounted on the base and frameand operating` the gear mechanisms to shift said elements for balancing the platform `and frame.` 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

i' A.iosiirri BAKoviciirw 

